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ADVOCACY AND CITIZENSHIP
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Michael Moore
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Video: Low High
Audio: audio
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"In Our system it works best when you have a good prosecutor and you have a good defense
attorney, and both understand that their job is to seek the truth; not just to win."
Trial drama is broadcast daily on national television in real or fictional courtrooms.
It has become a form of entertainment. We can watch cases being argued in domestic,
civil, juvenile, and criminal courts. Sometimes a judge alone listens to lawyers'
arguments. In other trials, attorneys must convince a jury to get a ruling in their
client's favor. But legal advocacy is serious business and critical to our rights
as citizens in a democracy.
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SAMPLE RESEARCH TOPICS
- A Famous Criminal Trial: Research a famous criminal trial of the past
- An Important Consumer Case: Research a class action suit such as Michael
Moore conducted against the tobacco companies.
- A Significant Environmental Case: Research a case in which important environment
issues or rights were at stake.
- A Local Trial:Research a trail in your local area that had a significant
effect on your community.
SAMPLE RESEARCH QUESTIONS:
Start with the 5Ws - Who? What? Where? When? Why?
- Who are active participants in the trial? Who is on trial?
- Why is this person or organization on trial?
- When did this trial take place?
- What were the allegations, charges, and issues in this trial?
- What were the prosecutor's or opposing attorney's arguments?
- What were the defense attorney's arguments?
- What did attorneys present as evidence to advocate for their clients?
- How effective was each attorney's skill as an advocate?
- What was the outcome of the trial?
- How was justice served?
- Why is this trial important?
RESEARCH OUTCOMES
When you have completed your research, present your findings in one of the following
formats: Newspaper Article - Editorial - Trial Web Site - Interview
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